State of the Board Discussion [Moved to Here]

[Dingleberry]

I suppose I am a homer since I am typically a "glass half full" person.

Until he was sent to Chicago, I still held out hope that this was going to be the year for Harry. I still think Wynn could be a force at OT for us. And Patricia is certainly smart enough to be a great play caller! Intellectually, I know the odds may be against some of these, but I get more joy with a little suspension of disbelief when it comes to rooting for the Patriots. Just gotta believe.

Other people focus on the negative. It's a defense mechanism. If everything does go wrong, at least I was right! This doesn't seem all that fun to me. But I do enjoy watching how other people process their fandom.

What really baffles me is why any Homers are bothered by negative Nancies. Even though I rarely agree with the negative takes, I find them fascinating and at times entertaining. A rah rah echo chamber would get boring real fast. Circle jerks are just not my thing...well not since the last police sting at that rest area.

I am such a homer that I won't even bet against the Patriots in my gambling contest even when it is the right bet. It would take the fun out of it for me. The irony is that some of the more sensitive homers would say I am not a real homer (or a real fan) because I still fully root for Tom Brady. Gasp!

Banning, blocking, over-moderating. Sounds kind of embarrassingly sensitive to me. But if that's your thing.

 

[Joker]

Banning, blocking, over-moderating. Sounds kind of embarrassingly sensitive to me. But if that's your thing.

you're here as a Dingleberry...and always have been. Seems to me YOU would be first in line for a "ban", "block" or "moderation"...plus it's obvious you're an organized crime associate with your yearly betting threads. Relax...I got your back anyway....

 

[cupofjoe1962]

We should have a political board

I kid because I love.

Here's to the ugly preseason being epic sandbaggery

The POF was crazy & a lot of fun & that was before Trump & dementia Joe.

Ian would need metal detector at the POF door these days.

 

[patfanken]

While I get as annoyed as the next guy at the ranters and naysayers who seem to be RELENTLESSLY pushing often myopic positions. 2nd guessing IS a fans' basic right. That's what we do and I'd probably LEAVE this board if guys like @captain stone suddenly left. He provides an invaluable service. Guys like him are like the straw that stirs the drink. Guys (and gals) that are brave enough create the talking points and stimulate discussion.

However it is critical that we separate a guy like Captain. Stone with the TROLLS who are causing the problems. Sometimes I want to strangle them since they aren't willing to honestly argue the point, but rather just want to argue. BUT the fact is @Ian has given us enough tools that we as individuals NEVER have to cater to a TROLL....ever. Mute, Ignore, or choose to pass by Troll posts what ever, it's all you need. Now personally I have never ignored or muted a poster, but I have skimmed past the posts of people I consider trolls as not to aggravate myself and my blood pressure has gone down ever since I started doing this.

I come here to talk FOOTBALL first, the Pats second, occasionally give voice to some social issue discussion like Deshaun Watson, or the occasional OT thread. It has provided me with endless hours of enjoyment over the years. Just sayin'

 

[Joker]

It's Friday night, I mean, what is going on ... ? Is there anyone who isn't in a miserable mood? Asking for a friend.

"another Friday night and I ain't got no money

I blew it all just tryn' to get laid

Oh how I wish I had someone to talk too

This thread is rather staid..."

 

[Tunescribe]

Homer gets thrown around way too much, likely because any form of optimism is frowned upon from people who tend to always be expecting the worst. I get that we're adjusting to not being penciled in for January (or February) anymore, but I feel like I enjoyed the ride a little more last year primarily because I never knew what to expect week in and week out. Sunday is one of only two days we don't have to think about work and I agree, it's a distraction I definitely look forward to.

Ian, something I hope you can please help keep a lid on this season: There's an element here that goes overboard trying to shame "homers" for allegedly being unrealistic or not critical enough. These self-fashioned football "experts" are more invested in stoking their own egos and pushing agendas (usually anti-BB, anti-Kraft, etc.) vs. acknowledging positives. I had a bellyful of that nonsense last year, especially from the Buccaneers fan contingent that gleefully swoops in whenever the Pats, or especially our quarterback, are struggling. I'll never forget a certain "God of Wrath" insisting we Patriots fans "pump the breaks" on lauding Mac Jones when the kid showed early promise. Seems Mac apparently was undeserving, at least to some, since his initials weren't T.B. That stuff needs to end.

 

[catent]

Been on this board for many years now and there are a lot of improvements made by Ian over the years. What has stayed the same is the amount of whiny posters who would prefer to stand very close the edge with a myopic view of the Pats World, instead of having confidence in the Patriots and the BB brain trust. Unfortunately there are many who believe the Pats are doomed before we see the final edition of this team and how it all comes together.

You hit on something that genuinely bothers me: Stating something as a matter of fact, or a certainty, when it is not yet known (and cannot be known). I probably see it the most when it comes to discussing the future of a given draft pick; it's not uncommon for someone to state that so-and-so sucks, and will always suck. Besides the fact that cannot yet be known, it is also completely unfair to the player himself, denying him the opportunity to prove himself. Imagine if some person that did not know you personally and had never met you, wrote off your professional career before started, because they don't like the person who hired you.

Beyond that, the ignore/block feature is one that I use liberally but am beginning to have misgivings about. The purpose of a discussion forum is to exchange thoughts/ideas in a shared community. If I'm blocking out a non-insignificant percentage of the voices participating, I'm probably missing something, either good information or some essence of the community itself. The issue is that I'm not blocking these people because I find them annoying or disagreeable - there are plenty of people who I have not blocked who annoy me, or with whom I disagree. I'm blocking people whose modus operandi when posting is to disrupt or agitate because they find it entertaining; there is a distinction to be made there.

 

[Joker]

 

[catent]

Ian, something I hope you can please help keep a lid on this season: There's an element here that goes overboard trying to shame "homers" for allegedly being unrealistic or not critical enough. These self-fashioned football "experts" are more invested in stoking their own egos and pushing agendas (usually anti-BB, anti-Kraft, etc.) vs. acknowledging positives. I had a bellyful of that nonsense last year, especially from the Buccaneers fan contingent that gleefully swoops in whenever the Pats, or especially our quarterback, are struggling. I'll never forget a certain "God of Wrath" insisting we Patriots fans "pump the breaks" on lauding Mac Jones when the kid showed early promise. Seems Mac apparently was undeserving since his initials weren't T.B. -- at least to some folks here. That stuff needs to end.

This is also really important - the reality that there are posters whose percentage of time spent on the Patriots' portion of this forum varies based on the team's success. They disappear when the team is playing well but reappear as soon as they struggle.

This should be simple to track via looking at team record and posting history. If there is someone who only shows up following losses and posts overwhelmingly critical/negative things, IMO, they should be considered a troll in the truest sense of the word, and should be prohibited from posting on the Patriots' part of the forum. Those who show up and celebrate the wins and positive moments, fair play, they have the right to be critical and negative when it's justified.

Likewise, those who only go to the Tompa forum when Tampa struggles, and posts overwhelmingly critical/negative/pot-stirring things should be treated accordingly, and barred from the Tompa forum.

To put it simply, if one posts in order to agitate and disrupt, that poster is a troll and should not be allowed to post on this forum until they modify their behavior.

 

[Joker]

"Trolls" don't modify their behaviour...this is why they're trolls. Grow some thicker skin and let Ian run this site the way he wants to.

 

[Tunescribe]

This is also really important - the reality that there are posters whose percentage of time spent on the Patriots' portion of this forum varies based on the team's success. They disappear when the team is playing well but reappear as soon as they struggle.

This should be simple to track via looking at team record and posting history. If there is someone who only shows up following losses and posts overwhelmingly critical/negative things, IMO, they should be considered a troll in the truest sense of the word, and should be prohibited from posting on the Patriots' part of the forum. Those who show up and celebrate the wins and positive moments, fair play, they have the right to be critical and negative when it's justified.

Likewise, those who only go to the Tompa forum when Tampa struggles, and posts overwhelmingly critical/negative/pot-stirring things should be treated accordingly, and barred from the Tompa forum.

To put it simply, if one posts in order to agitate and disrupt, that poster is a troll and should not be allowed to post on this forum until they modify their behavior.

Simply put, there are posters here who want the Patriots/BB/Mac Jones to fail out of spite for Tom Brady not concluding his career in New England. (And yes, whatever Pats fans want Tom to fail in Tampa are idiots too.)

 

[Joker]

Simply put, there are posters here who want the Patriots/BB/Mac Jones to fail out of spite for Tom Brady not concluding his career in New England.

"somebody took my blue blankie...waaaaahhh"

 

[borg]

However, I've had additional thoughts over the last couple of days where a daily post limit may start being imposed on some that are just starting to go too far. I'm looking internally at what it would take to implement it as I think most people know I'm not a fan of booting people, but I've noticed a few who, when you look at their history, haven't had much to offer in terms of discussion and seem to enjoy whatever potential disaster they believe is always coming. Rather than boot them, I believe possibly limiting the amount they can do that may come into play. So for those who fall into that category, please keep that in mind.

For starters, surgically remove the cancer that you have enabled to metastasize...... the Tompa Bucs forum.



The Gronkateers have been permitted to mingle among the general population



Decent PatsFans cower in fear



It doesn't have to be this way

 

[Bill Lee]

However, I've had additional thoughts over the last couple of days where a daily post limit may start being imposed on some that are just starting to go too far. I'm looking internally at what it would take to implement it as I think most people know I'm not a fan of booting people, but I've noticed a few who, when you look at their history, haven't had much to offer in terms of discussion and seem to enjoy whatever potential disaster they believe is always coming. Rather than boot them, I believe possibly limiting the amount they can do that may come into play. So for those who fall into that category, please keep that in mind.

It won't be easy to get right, but since you already have "time since last post" rate limiting, you could consider "posts per hour" rate limiting too. Hopefully that could cut back on the "you're a turd / no, you're a turd" post chains we get from time to time.

 

[Bill Lee]

Grow some thicker skin

I don't think one just grows thicker skin, and I'm not sure I want to live in a world filled with thick skinned people, just like I don't want to live in a world where everyone straps a gun onto their hip every time they leave the house.

... let Ian run this site the way he wants to.

Who says he isn't?

Personally, I think if he was running the site the way he wanted to there would be a lot more perma-bans, but I think he's forcing himself to err on the side of keeping dialogs going, even if some of them are IMO ban-worthy.

 

[Dragda]

Complaining about the Patriots is in our DNA. We had Sullivan and Kiam as owners!

It’s the bickering taking over threads that has limited my time here.

 

[Pape]

He's really flipping out and having a meltdown bc people won't agree with him when he says we have the worst WR corp in the league. No one is saying it can't be improved but saying we're the absolute worst is a stretch. He really wants to die on that hill.


*side note*
I'm beginning to suspect some people that don't post frequently might get the itch after a few drinks but I could be wrong.

He's part of a group of posters who conflate criticism of the Patriots within a specific context and out right ****ting on the team without that context as the same thing ... Case in point, the preseason running game critiques... We saw an offensive line struggle with the outside zone blocking concepts .. But they were fine with the gap blocking they traditionally use... Hence the averages ring 6 was talking about...

But combining the two philosophies and just saying they suck over and over is part and parcel of the trolling that's become endemic to those types of posts... Some are better at it that others... He's just a hammer with no nuance whatsoever... He wears his agenda on his sleeve...

And when confronted what does he do? Drops the pretense of criticism and attacks the poster hoping to debate a topic... You should know this though you plagiarist you lol... (I don't believe that for a second, jic you had any doubt - I've read your stuff and seen your rankings too many times to believe that garbage accusation)

 

[jimnance]

It’s the bickering taking over threads that has limited my time here.

No,it's not

 

[Ian]

Complaining about the Patriots is in our DNA. We had Sullivan and Kiam as owners!

It’s the bickering taking over threads that has limited my time here.

I know it’s irritating, but test the blue mute button on the people in a given thread who are bugging you. That button is thread-specific, and it really does make a difference. Definitely among the few things feature-wise here that I’ve done in recent years that has ended up turning out better than I expected.

 

[Ian]

For starters, surgically remove the cancer that you have enabled to metastasize...... the Tompa Bucs forum.



The Gronkateers have been permitted to mingle among the general population



Decent PatsFans cower in fear



It doesn't have to be this way

While I get what you’re saying, let’s say I did what you suggested and removed it. Am I supposed to delete every mention of Tom and ban anyone who likes him from now until he retires? Because that forum has spared the mods and I that need to this point.